sonne



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. 0. SONNE.

I TELEPHONE SWITCH BOARD.

No. 328,618. Patented 00b. 20, 1885.

WITNESSES I ATTORNEY INVENTOR N. Prrsna Phaio-Lhhographur. Wnhlnglon, n. c

' to like parts.

CARL CHRISTIAN SONNE, OF SHANGHAI,

.ATENT @rrica.

CHINA.

TELEPHONE SWITCH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,618, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed December 2"), 1884.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, CARL CHRISTIAN SONNE, a citizen of Denmark, and a resident of Shang hai, China, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephone Switch- Boards, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch-board for telephoneexchange systems, whereby, first, the annunciator-drops may themselves automatically connect the subscriber s line to earth or to the central office electric generator or to the telephonic instrument; second, the connecting contact-plug in which the subscribers line ends may automatically connect the subscribers line to earth when not in use; third, the switch-board may be divided up into sections in case the number of subscribers is unusually large.

The invention consistsin providing means for accomplishing in one switch-board these three objects, and will be better comprehended by a description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents a partial cross-section al view, and partially in diagram, of the switch-board, and shows the general arrange ment and shapes of the various parts. Fig. 2 shows a modification of the annunciatordrops. Fig. 3 represents the face of the annunciator-drop, while Fig. 4 represents the idea of connecting or dividing the sections of the switch-board.

Like letters and figures of reference refer A line made of alternate long and short dashes or marks, except in Fig. 4, (in that figure the wires themselves are shown,) represents the electric circuit. Lines made of successive short dashes represent movable parts in a different relative position. Irregular and continuous lines represent that a portion of the object has been omitted, as such omitted portions were not necessary to assist in the description of the invention.

All unnecessary parts and details of construction are omitted for the purpose of preventing confusion.

The parts of the drawings not referred to have nothing to do with my invention.

Serial No. 150,900. (No model.)

The annunciatordrops and construction consist of the electro-magnets A, leverB situated beneath the armature-lever B, pivoted upon the support E, and counterbalanced by the weight 0, and adjusted in its degree of swing by the screw D, the plate F on which rest the electromagnets and which support the annunciator-drop G free to swing through an are, so that at its extreme positions it will come into electrical contact with the springs H and I, insulated from each other by being attached to the insulating substance Q.

The connecting or contact plug and surroundings consist of the plug M, fitting in an insulating-socket, R, ofhard rubber or equivalent, and capable of being removed at pleasure from the said socket. The plug ismetal, and is metallically connected with the flexible conductor 0, and is held in, place and in contact with the metal plate N by the weight I, thus causing a complete circuit from 3 to 4 when the plug is in the socket.

The springs I (shown in front view in Fig. 4 and by one spring in side view in Fig. 1) are metallically connected in pairs, triplets, or in any number, and these several collections may themselves be connected by the switches S. The switch for connecting one or more of these sets of springs with the puslrbutton J (see Fig. 1) is shown in the lower part of Fig. 4.

The important parts of my switch-board having been described, its modus operandi will next be in order. The subscribers call-current 1 passes through the elcctro-magnet A of the annunciator and through the flexible conductor into the plug M. This plug, which is kept upright by the weight underneath, makes by its lower end contactwith a metallic piece, N, which is again connected to the body of the annunciator-drop G. Behind G is arranged a metallic spring, H, against which G rests when in its natural position, and with which it makes electrical contact. All the springs H are connected directly to earth L, either separately or preferably being made in groups of three orfour, as shown in Fig. 4. In this way the circuit is completed. \Vhen a call arrives and the drop G falls down it makes contact with a spring, I, which is in connection with the central-office telephone K, or by means of the push-button or key J with the electric generator T. The operator has consequently nothing to do but press down J and reply by a ring and then speak after having released J, and need not touch the connecting-plug till he has ascertained the subscriber s wish. After having connected the parties he resets the drops, which may'again serveto indicate when the subscribers ring off. Immediately the plug M is released it returns to its normal position, making connection with N. In this way at least two manipulations are avoided at each call. Supposing the springs I to be connected together in groups, when two or more drops fall at the same time they connect several lines to the operators telephone at once. The inconvenience of this may be avoided by the operator either replacing the drops all but the one he wishes to reply to first, or else lift up the plugs M (only one is shown) of those lines that are to wait, a little way from N and thus insulating the wires until he is ready to speak to the waiting subscribers. Practically this answers very well on a switchboard up to fifty lines, or when the exchange is not very busy. (I have tried it on a fifty-line switchboard.) In case, however, that calls are so frequent that this causes inconvenience, the system of springs I may be arranged in groups of any convenient number, as shown in Fig. 4. Each group is then connected to a contact in the switch, (shown in Fig. 4,) the body of which is'connected to the telephone K. The body of the key or switch may rotate on a pivot, V, arranged to stop readily over any of the contact-pieces a. Of course the system may be attached to any form of annunciator switchboard and any convenient mode for making the connections respectively between the drop and earth and telephone. Fig. 2

gives an example of another method, where the frame W of the annunciator is grounded by circuit 6, and the drop G at its lower end is made in the form of acam, so as to connect to a short springfastened to the plate X (and does not touch WV) when in its normal posi- Llocated in a position to make electrical contact with the said drop G when the latter is allowed to fall by the lever B being at any time attached by the electro-magnets A, and

the push-button J, which directs,according to its adjusted position,the current either to the battery F or to the telephone K,substantially as described.

2. In a telephone switch-board, the combination of the adjustable plug M, fitting in or removable from the socket R and electrically connected to the conductor 0, leading to the subscribers line 1, and the plate N, connected electrically with the conductor 4, which connects with the earth or with the telephone or battery, according to the position of the annunciator-lever G and push-button J, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a telephone switch-board, the combination of the groups of springs Leach located under an annunciator lever, G, as shown, switches S,located between said groups for the purpose specified, and a second swltch provided with contact points a,connected each by a wire to one of said groups and arranged side by side, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Shanghai, in China, this 6th day of August, A. D. 1884.

' CARL CHRISTIAN SONNE.

WVitnesses:

JOHN ONEILL, G. A. SHUFELDT. 

